Anti-Oxidants with Chemo

I heard integrative oncologist Dr. Keith Block speak and he showed evidence that antioxidants help chemo work. He's gathered the research together in a book but here is his article with references.

http://www.blockmd.com/AntioxidantStudy.pdf

Lisanne - I have the same question!  I see a naturopath - he does nutritional response testing and he's worked wonders with my family.  He believes antioxidants should be used with chemo.  HOWEVER, my midwife who is also undergoing chemo, says nix to that - that antioxidants wrap themselves around cells, even cancer cells, and protect them.  And we wanna kill them! 

 I'm confused as well.  Since the supplements I take are all whole food supplements, does that mean that eating antioxidants are bad too during chemo?  Should we NOT be eating broccoli, carrots, sprouts etc??
I'm completely confused. 

I asked my oncologist the same question and she told me there was a study that showed antioxidants inhibited the effectiveness of chemo.  When I told her that was upsetting since I enjoy foods that have these properties and she said that was not a problem.  The issue involved those who take huge amounts of antioxidant supplements.  The normal amount you get from food will not pose any problems.

So which vitamins/supplements are antioxidants?

I was told the same thing about radiation.  I couldn't understand why I was given no restrictions on my diet.  I was encouraged to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but my suppliments were a no no.  My radiology oncologist said that they just didn't know but wanted to play it safe.  ??????

 Roseann

After much reading, I just don't know if I believe the whole anti-oxidant thing.  There are integrative oncologists who are recommeding coQ10 to their patients for heart protection....there is absolutely no evidence that these things interfere with chemo - the studies that were done had higher doses injected right into the cells and that is not how the body uses nutrients.

I was told to eat lots of veggies, dark greens such as spinach - blueberries and such for immune support.  Hello...........all those things contain many more antioxidants at more effective levels than regular "supplements".  I think they're scared and they don' t know.  No green tea - but green salads are okay?  Come on.....  What about sprouts on a salad?  Broccoli sprouts are one of the best things you can do against breast cancer and those are WAY WAY WAY higher in antioxidants than the average person's supplements..........

Well I feel compelled to chime in here. A year ago I did chemo and went with the "they will help the chemo be more effective and protect the rest of my body" train of thought under the guidance of a naturapath. Then 11 months later I had a recurrence. I will always wonder if I undermined that first chemo. I just finished 4 more chemo and did not use the anit oxidants this time. You really do not want to have to do chemo more than once. For me this second set of treatments has been a slow, miserable crawl through hell.    

Interesting thread and I believe the bottom line is no one really knows and its an ongoing debate whether antioxidants protect cancer cells from the desired cytoxic effects of chemo because there are no controlled studies that have tested this hypothesis.  I visit an Integrative Onc and an MO, their opinions differ. The last thing I wish to do is impede the efficacy of chemo from doing its job.

What I did decifer is there is a difference between active chemo and recovery.  For example, my MO does not want me to take supplements during chemo or 48 hours before and 48 hours after infusion, she specifically mentioned A, C, E.  She indicated that antioxidants through natural food sources are fine. I do juice however, which does supply a higher dose of natural antioxidants, which I discussed with her.

She was concerned I was drinking "bags of carrots" daily, which is not the case.  I juice to top my vegetable intake to between 11-12 servings per day and add the variety I require.

She asked me to limit my juice intake to 4 oz only 48 hours prior to and 48 hours after infusion.  Then I can go ahead and drink the juice normally after. 

This modification also coincides with a book I read by Dr. John Link an oncologist who specializes in Breast Cancer .  He specifically states in his book (and in person - I met with him) that during chemo to discontinue antioxidants two days before and after each treatment.  Unless you are on the oral form of chemo - then no antioxidants during that time. He then recommends limited antioxidants in a reduced dosage during the recovery phase which include Beta Carotene, CoQ10, Selenium, Vit E and Vit C.

With that said, I have limited my main source of antioxidants during recovery (outside the 48 hour windows) in the form of natural sources, ie vegetables and fruit.  The supplements I do take are as follows and I start them up after the 48 hour window if my stomach is up to it or as soon I can without stomach upset:

Multi

Iron

Fish Oil

Magnesium

D3

Melatonin

Probiotics

Selenium

L Glutamine

Biotin & Silica

Green Tea

Post chemo, I will be reviewing my blood panel with my Integrative Onc and increasing my supplement and adding additional antioxidants to help my body eliminate free radicals and possibly decrease my risk of recurrence.